Can't Hurt To Make Your Kiddos Money Savvvy

SUSAN BEACHAM, A NATIONAL EXPERT ON KIDS AND MONEY, explains the importance of teaching kids to be money-savvy with this brilliant quote: “If you don’t teach kids the ABC’s of personal finance, you will be left with D and E – debt and entitlement – later on.”

Beacham, who had a two-decade career in private banking and investment management, founded Money Savvy Generation, a company that develops innovative products to help parents and educators teach basic personal finance skills to school-age children.

The products range from picture books to piggy banks to a personal-finance organizer geared to teens, all pushing the same message: Kids need to know there are four things they can do with money: save, spend, donate or invest.

Other companies, like Seattle-based Moonjar, are also in the money-guidance game, with products like the retro-style three-sided tins where you can deposit money to save, spend or share. Moonjar’s latest offering is the Family Kit, which comes with a lesson plan that helps kids of all ages understand wants and needs, budgeting and goal setting.

Of course, you don’t have to buy products to help teach your kids to be money savvy. The best way is to be a good role model and talk to your children about the importance of budgeting, saving and investing.

Some other good ideas:

Open a savings account in your child’s name. Make going to the bank and depositing that piggy bank full of coins a fun event.
Set up a matching plan. If they deposit $25 in the bank, you’ll match it with the same amount.
Plan what to do with money received as gifts: Use half to spend on something you need/want; put the other half in the bank or donate to a good cause.

(This was recently posted on the Lifestyle Insights blog I contribute to..visit there for lots of other cool info..)

Fill Those Eggs With...

THAT EASTER BUNNY HAS GOTTEN PRETTY CLEVER. After realizing that last year’s Easter candy was still in the cupboard, she knew there had to be a better way to fill all those plastic eggs and still please the kiddos. So, herewith, is the EB’s Top 10 list of non-edible treats.

1. Money Talks: Doesn’t matter if you do pennies, quarters or the occasional dollar bill. Make the hunt a profitable venture that gives the piggy bank some playing time, too.
2. Mommy/Daddy Coupons: Use your computer to create coupons that give your child an opportunity for some special time with Mom or Dad. “This coupon entitles [CHILD] to an ice-cream treat with Mommy.”
3. All Tied Up: Decorative shoelaces are fun for kicks of all sizes. We love the selection here.
4. Get Silly: What kids doesn’t dig Silly Putty? (And it’s even more fun when you consider you’d find an egg within an egg.)
5. Hair Raising: Hair ties, clips or headbands are always needed and appreciated by the girlie girl in the fam.
6. Nature Rocks: Think of polished stones or seashells as treasures from nature.
7. Paper Chase: Everyone loves to be complimented. On slips of paper, write down virtues your child displays in certain situations: “[Child] shows the virtue of generosity when she shares toys with her little brother.”
8. Stuck on You: Stickers or temporary tattoos provide hours of fun.
9. You’ve Got a Friend: Friendship bracelets can be worn by girls and boys and are the ultimate sign of loyalty.
10. Life’s a Party: Fill an egg with sparkly confetti and watch the fun as the eggs are opened.

(This post also ran on the awesome Lifestyle Insights blog I contribute to.. check it out for lots of great info!)

A recent post from the Lifestyle Insights blog I contribute to on Green Birthday Parties!

THE CONVENTIONAL KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY can produce mountains of waste. From the piles of disposable cups and plates to the excess of toys kids receive (but don’t really need) to the themed paper decorations that are thrown away, it’s enough to make any eco-conscious parent cringe.

But with a bit of ingenuity, throwing a Green Birthday Party is fairly easy to do. Enlist your Kiddo’s help and it can be a fun, rewarding experience.

Start by breaking down your party into categories. Then focus on how to make each aspect as eco-friendly as possible. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Invitations: Electronic is the way to go — it’s faster, and easier for people to reply. Plus, today’s wired moms appreciate an email or text reminder of the event. Use free sites such as Evite, MyPunchbowl or Purple Trail, and let your child help with creating the design.

Themes and gifts: Instead of going with Disney’s flavor-of-the-month, think outside the box. Does your kid love puppies? Make dog-bone shaped cookies for snacks and asks guests to bring, in lieu of gifts, donations such as dog food, water bowls and leashes, which you can donate to a local animal shelter. You could ask for a monetary donation, something minimal such as $5 or $10. On the invitation, explain that half of the proceeds will go to a specific cause, the other half used by the birthday child to buy one large gift of his or her choice. Echoage can help you organize a charity-themed party.

Decorations: Consider Green Party Goods, which has a beautiful selection of eco-friendly party hats, banners and garlands, as well as tableware. Oh, and what’s a party without balloons? Forget Mylar; choose latex balloons, which are 100-percent biodegradable!